Should I Change My Career To Locksmithing?

[Drama]

I was considering switching my career to locksmithing.

I would like to give a brief history of my work experience so you can help guide me in this important decision.

Worked at UPS as a truck loader 1 year.
Worked as electrical assistant 6 months.
Worked as a bartender and restaurant manager for 3 years.
Went to school for PC Support got a certificate. Also got My Network Plus and A+ certifications.
After that got a job supervising a energy management call center for about 3 years.
I then went to an industrial HVAC controls company to learn to be a technician. The deal was I would start in the service department and go from there. The service manager happened to leave; I have always had a very high entrepreneurial spirit and asked for the position. To my surprise they gave it to me.
It is very stressful though and I am only 28 years old managing people much older and more experienced then me. I took this job to try and get out of customer service and now I am the leader. It turns out I am a natural at programming and can easily solve many of the customers problems with there equipment. I am very introverted though and find other parts of the job, mainly dealing with people very stressful. I do like the perks of selling though.

I have recently begun to think of a job that I would really enjoy and could still make good money. Possibly even start my own business one day. Locksmithing was the winner. I hear you have to solve allot of puzzles which I love and I like being a businessman as far as selling goes. I also love to work allot of hours, but not in a stressful office where the phone keeps ringing and the owners hover over you while you work.

I currently make somewhere near $55,000 a year with my commissions and have a potential to increase that significantly over the years as I build a strong customer base. As well as having paid vacations, benefits, and 401k.

Is work as a locksmith stressful?
Would someone with my drive and worth ethics make good money quickly?
Should I even consider this career change?

[gotta]

I wouldn't be so quick to make the change. Locksmithing can be stressful. Unless you work for a large company, you'll not have the benefits you do now. Working with people is a big part of the job as well. You may want to explore the possibilities of being an institutional locksmith. If I had to do it over, I'd probably go that route, mainly for the retirement and benefits. Just my opinion, but take a good long look before doing anything.

[Drama]

I wouldn't be so quick to make the change. Locksmithing can be stressful. Unless you work for a large company, you'll not have the benefits you do now. Working with people is a big part of the job as well. You may want to explore the possibilities of being an institutional locksmith. If I had to do it over, I'd probably go that route, mainly for the retirement and benefits. Just my opinion, but take a good long look before doing anything.

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate it.

All I do all day is think of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I still live home with my parents and am single.

Before I move out and find a girlfriend I want to be happy with my career.

[Beyond]

I wouldn't be so quick to make the change. Locksmithing can be stressful. Unless you work for a large company, you'll not have the benefits you do now. Working with people is a big part of the job as well. You may want to explore the possibilities of being an institutional locksmith. If I had to do it over, I'd probably go that route, mainly for the retirement and benefits. Just my opinion, but take a good long look before doing anything.

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate it.

All I do all day is think of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I still live home with my parents and am single.

Before I move out and find a girlfriend I want to be happy with my career.

In my opinion, given your background with computers and electronics, I would try to get on with a locksmith shop in your area that also offers access control.

I to have my A+ certification and I'm studying for my Network+ and RFID+. I also am finishing up school with a degree in IT. I asked to apprentice at a local locksmith shop and was able to get on. I mentioned my experience and knowledge with computers and was able to get with their access control guy. I got on and was able to start assisting him in everything from installation to programming.

From there, you can easily transition to traditional locksmithing, although I would advise not to go to complete traditional locksmithing. The money in access control is very, very good and I actually enjoy it. It affords you a certain freedom that I am sure everyone could enjoy. I'm not sure if you could command $55,000 right off the bat, depends really on your knowledge (although you seem to have your stuff straight) and location, but you could make at least that once you get things going.

Then from there you could easily start asking to learn little by little the ins and outs of the other portion of locksmithing. That's pretty much what I am doing now. We usually have 1-2 requests a job to do something thats more traditional oriented (installing door arms, re-keying locks, etc.).

That's pretty much what I am doing. I asked to apprentice to learn the traditional side of it and never even heard of "access control." Nevertheless, I enjoyed it right away and was happy to find out that there is a lot of money to be made in that distinct area of locksmithing.

Hope this helps.

[Drama]

I wouldn't be so quick to make the change. Locksmithing can be stressful. Unless you work for a large company, you'll not have the benefits you do now. Working with people is a big part of the job as well. You may want to explore the possibilities of being an institutional locksmith. If I had to do it over, I'd probably go that route, mainly for the retirement and benefits. Just my opinion, but take a good long look before doing anything.

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate it.

All I do all day is think of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I still live home with my parents and am single.

Before I move out and find a girlfriend I want to be happy with my career.

In my opinion, given your background with computers and electronics, I would try to get on with a locksmith shop in your area that also offers access control.

I to have my A+ certification and I'm studying for my Network+ and RFID+. I also am finishing up school with a degree in IT. I asked to apprentice at a local locksmith shop and was able to get on. I mentioned my experience and knowledge with computers and was able to get with their access control guy. I got on and was able to start assisting him in everything from installation to programming.

From there, you can easily transition to traditional locksmithing, although I would advise not to go to complete traditional locksmithing. The money in access control is very, very good and I actually enjoy it. It affords you a certain freedom that I am sure everyone could enjoy. I'm not sure if you could command $55,000 right off the bat, depends really on your knowledge (although you seem to have your stuff straight) and location, but you could make at least that once you get things going.

Then from there you could easily start asking to learn little by little the ins and outs of the other portion of locksmithing. That's pretty much what I am doing now. We usually have 1-2 requests a job to do something thats more traditional oriented (installing door arms, re-keying locks, etc.).

That's pretty much what I am doing. I asked to apprentice to learn the traditional side of it and never even heard of "access control." Nevertheless, I enjoyed it right away and was happy to find out that there is a lot of money to be made in that distinct area of locksmithing.

Hope this helps.

Although I am very business oriented. I really like working with my hands and solving problems. I happen to find locks more interesting then HVAC.

If I do make the change I would definitely sell myself by letting them know I could jump right into access control.

[Drama]

Thanks by the way, that really helps allot. We actually do some access control and security camera installation.

[Beyond]

No problem. I hope you find what really makes you happy in life.